The gravel road traveling south from Winchester, Kan., gradually rises and falls over farmland and countryside that stretches for miles. One could easily imagine that the 21st Century houses with electric wires and satellite dishes are sturdy pioneer homes, that the tractors and massive combines are steam engines working and harvesting the rich earth, and the passing motorist is a friendly neighbor heading into town in a horse-drawn wagon. It is no wonder that settlers sweeping across the central plains decided to stop and call this land home.

The road travels onward, and to the left lies a rustic gate that marks the entrance to 30 acres of meadow, woods, and pond that has served as a gathering place for worship, fellowship, and recreation for several generations: Camp Curry.

Few outside of the RPCNA’s Midwest Presbytery are aware of Camp Curry, and even within the presbytery there are few that are aware of the history of the grounds.

In the late 1940s, local towns in northeastern Kansas competed to raise funds to build a hospital that would improve medical services to area residents. After numerous fundraisers and pledge drives, the town of Winchester was selected as the site for what is now the F.W. Huston Medical Center. At that time, the land that would become Camp Curry was used for pasture and hay by Neil Curry, a local farmer and member of the Winchester, Kan., RPC. Mr. Curry pledged a sizeable amount of money to secure the hospital in Winchester but was unable to meet his pledge due to a poor return on his farm operation. In order to help Mr. Curry meet his pledge and assure construction of the hospital in Winchester, another local farmer and Winchester congregant, Ross Keys, donated the difference in return for a separate pledge from Mr. Curry: to donate one of his pasture lands to the presbytery.

To fully appreciate these gifts, one must understand their significance and the times in which they were given. Ed Filbert (Winchester, Kan.), a longtime supporter of Camp Curry, comments that, “had Neil’s pledge been lost, Winchester wouldn’t have been able to have the hospital located there.” As to the timing of the gifts, consider that the Great Depression was only a recent memory for the country, and Mr. Keys was merely a few years removed from having to work whatever job he could to save his farm and feed his family. Indeed, the circumstances by which Winchester gained a hospital and the presbytery the land that would become Camp Curry is a testimony to God’s faithfulness during troubled times.

The Camp Curry land was ultimately donated to the presbytery in the early ’60s on the condition that the grounds be improved. A committee consisting of Don Gordon, Ken McBurney, Howard Elliott, Wiley Caskey, and Clair Curry formed to oversee development. Initial improvements included construction of a pond, a road into the camp, and outhouses complete with simple Adam and Eve entrance signs, which are still present. In the early ’70s, a picnic shelter was built overlooking the pond, and the site was hooked up to rural water lines.

Initially there were plans for the construction of a worship center, but, while the pond was a popular swimming spot, the unsupervised grounds also attracted vandals. After several picnic tables were set on fire, the development committee recommended construction of an onsite caretaker’s residence. This was accomplished in 1988 using funds donated from Ross and Lola Keys’ estate by their daughters, Rose O’Neill, Ruth Clark, and Edith Duguid. Since that time, the campgrounds have been safeguarded by the presence of various caretakers, including Mike and Joan Wallace, Chris and Leslie Huston, Brad and Amanda Filbert, James and Jill Tweed, and current caretakers Justin and Molly Finley. In the early 2000s, plans for the worship center finally came to fruition using funds donated by the Shawnee RPC from the estate of Clyde Redpath.

From the donation of the land to the donation of funds for construction of the caretaker’s house and worship center, Camp Curry continues to thrive on a spirit of giving. The wrought-iron entrance gate that bears the name of the camp was fashioned and donated by a member of the Denison, Kan., RPC. A new grill outside the worship center was built by a member of the Winchester RPC. Many of the major projects, from construction of the road into the camp, to the laying of water lines and the raising of structures, have been completed in part with volunteer labor. There is hardly any aspect of Camp Curry that has not in some measure been built with hearts and hands ready to assist in any way possible.

Why have the members of the Midwest Presbytery donated so much support for 30 acres of land in northeastern Kansas? Camp Curry receives such support because it is more than a physical location, a proverbial dot on the map. It is a place where Christ’s kingdom is being advanced. The Winchester RPC organizes a back-to-school picnic for teachers in the local school district. This is a great opportunity for fellowship and community outreach. Camp Curry also regularly hosts Covenanter Youth (CY) retreats, marriage and parenting retreats, and a summer worship service. The summer service in particular is a well-attended event, with 200-300 participants gathered for worship followed by a picnic and psalm sing. This service is traditionally held immediately after Synod, with local RP congregations dismissing local services in order to attend those at Camp Curry. Thus, an added benefit of this time of worship and fellowship is that local pastors are able to devote their full efforts to the business of the church at Synod.

Hosting outdoor events at Camp Curry is not without unique challenges. Matt Boyle, Seth Wing, and Adam Wing (Shawnee, Kan.) grew up attending retreats at Camp Curry. They laugh as they reminisce about the wildlife and weather. Seth remembers how “we slept in tents and you could feel the field mice running under the tent.” Matt and Adam recall having to spend several hours in the caretaker’s house (prior to construction of the worship center) due to a storm. Seth adds, “There were three inches of rain in the bottom of my tent. My psalmbook was ruined!” Although the weather at the Camp Curry CY retreat is often balmy and unpredictable, Midwest Presbytery CY sponsor Keith Mann (Colorado Springs, Colo.) comments that it remains one of the more popular retreats. “What is really amazing is how speaker after speaker keeps the attention of 40-80 kids for several messages under a simple pavilion. No complaints, just soaking it in. As often as not God provides a nice breeze and the weather is more than tolerable.”

With its beautiful surroundings reminding visitors of the richness of God’s creation, Camp Curry also serves as a favorite spot for wedding receptions, rehearsal dinners, graduation parties, and family campouts. A frequent camper comments, “My father brought me and my brothers here to camp when we were children, and now I am bringing my children here. I cannot overstate the value of that family time about the campfire ring in my personal and spiritual development. I hope the same thing for my children.”

In the concluding verses of Psalm 90, Moses reflects on the splendor of the Lord’s handiwork and prays that He would confirm for us the work of our hands (vv.16-17):

Let Your work appear to Your servants and

Your majesty to their children.

Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us;

and confirm for us the work of our hands;

Yes, confirm the work of our hands.

This is a wonderful prayer for Camp Curry. God’s work of creation and salvation are on display, and we can rejoice that He has seen fit to use the work of many hands in the growth and development of this special location. May all of our efforts at Camp Curry and everywhere be confirmed for His own glory.

Special thanks to Ed and Eileen Filbert (Winchester, Kan.) for providing much of the background information and to Rita Lyon (Winchester, Kan.) for additional information and editing. Camp Curry is currently maintained by Development Committee members Jason Curry (Topeka, Kan.), Justin Finley (Winchester, Kan.), John Huston (Lawrence, Kan.), Stephen Parnell (Shawnee, Kan.), Joel Wallace (Manhattan, Kan.) and Dennis Wing (Shawnee, Kan.); and the generous support of the Midwest Presbytery and its members. Please visit and like the Camp Curry page on Facebook.

—By Stephen Parnell

Stephen Parnell is on Camp Curry’s development committee. He is a member of Shawnee, Kan., RPC. To view summer camp/conference opportunities, go to ReformedPresbyterian.org/events.